9/11: What if the hijackers crashed the planes into Nuke plants instead?

[0roo0roo]

aluminum thin skinned tube vs concrete... no.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--_RGM4Abv8

wtf you can't just go around smashing F-4s like that its not right

 

[DrPizza]

But most of the weight in a plane is concentrated in the fuselage, no? So you've got a concentrated column of weight, which I think (though I do not know) would be heavier beyond its proportions than a jet fighter. One is built to get a lot of weight in the air (passengers, luggage, etc.) while the other is built for speed.

Sure, that's true. But the force of the impact isn't really that much greater. It's just a force that would act on the concrete for a longer period of time. Watch the video posted above with the F4. As it hits, the maximum force it hits with is the force required to pulverize the thing. It'll just be pulverizing over a greater length. Of course, there's still the issue of all the energy. Is a passenger jet that much more rigid? Even if it is, it seems that you only need to withstand a certain amount of force. During the crash, I don't think the force is really going to increase.

 

[MSnowField]

As I pointed out the best target would have been dams due to massive flooding.

 

[coloumb]

Like the World Trade Center, the nuke plants were designed to withstand the biggest plane of its time. (737?)

Like Japan in WWII, did the hijackers make a tactical mistake by going after symbolic targets instead of strategic ones?
(Japan didnt destroy the oil reserves on Hawaii, which allowed the US to regroup quickly in the Pacific.)

How would today be different with 4 less nuke plants in existance?

I don't think things would be any different simply because they succeeded in crashing 4 airline jets on American soil.

 

[Jeff7]

"9/11: What if the hijackers crashed the planes into Nuke plants instead?"

We'd have to hear "nucular" a lot on country music radio stations.

 

[DrPizza]

As I pointed out the best target would have been dams due to massive flooding.

I'm not 100% sure, but shot in the dark - they wouldn't penetrate the more important dams.

 

[Rubycon]

That containment building will tell that jet to SCRAM. :biggrin:

 

[Cogman]

The absolute worst thing that could happen is a core breach (it is VERY unlikely). And even then, it will do what? Loose radio active material is bad but it is not the worst thing in the world. It is somewhat manageable.

 

[SsupernovaE]

That containment building will tell that jet to SCRAM. :biggrin:

I see what you did there

 

[Rubycon]

That reminds me does anyone recall the comment made by the physics professor in "The China Syndrome"?

"Render an area the size of the state of Pennsylvania uninhabitable" or something along those lines.

Ironically this was filmed in 1979 before the TMI incident but the whole thing (uncovering the core) and Pennsylvania was just a bit too creepy and thus delayed the debut of the film.

 

[rcpratt]

I know this has probably already been said, but I'm too lazy to read the whole thread - nuke plants are designed to withstand these kind of strikes. So this country would be much better off.

 

[BoomerD]

What would have happened?

There would be thousands fewer people killed, folks would have lost power for a while, but things would have been re-routed fairly quickly, and everything would have been back to normal within a few days. Lots of construction to fix the damages, but little-to-no nuk-u-ler radiation released.

 

[vshah]

what would have happened if the f4 shot a missile at that wall?

 

[Rubycon]

what would have happened if the f4 shot a missile at that wall?

If the wall was a foot thick you might have a missile tow.

 

[DrPizza]

what would have happened if the f4 shot a missile at that wall?

Depends on the type of missile.

 

[IronWing]

if the wall was a foot thick you might have a missile tow.

<smooch> :wub:

 

[Rubycon]

Depends on the type of missile.

Mother said what sounded like hush but was really an acronym - HESH.

 

[Zebo]

Well they seem to have a hard on for building...tried WTC like 3x. And planes. there are lots of targets terrorists could choose but they don't. And Silos are 14-20 ft thick of epoxy concrete. Planes would crumble hitting them. You need a bunker buster to penetrate. Far beyond skills of terrorists.

 

[Modelworks]

The NRC requires the containment buildings to have a minimum of 4ft thick reinforced concrete with most being 8ft thick. No plane is going through that and still being able to cause further damage.

A better target would be to crash into the power grid distribution points. Our is so bad they could fly biplanes into it and cripple us for months.

 

[Rubycon]

The NRC requires the containment buildings to have a minimum of 4ft thick reinforced concrete with most being 8ft thick. No plane is going through that and still being able to cause further damage.

A better target would be to crash into the power grid distribution points. Our is so bad they could fly biplanes into it and cripple us for months.

Yes if a simple fault caused by tree limbs too close to a 345kV transmission line can lead to a cascading failure leaving 60+ million people in the dark it's certainly possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlh1ihUR6xw

 

[Woosta]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--_RGM4Abv8

That's just a puny F4 though. What if 2 jumbo airplanes crashed into that thing on both sides?

 

[Modelworks]

Yes if a simple fault caused by tree limbs too close to a 345kV transmission line can lead to a cascading failure leaving 60+ million people in the dark it's certainly possible.

It is scary really how fragile it is , one engineer said it was held together with shoestrings and duct tape. Here in NC progress energy is putting up 400 miles worth of new high tension lines but will not invest in lines outside their area because it doesn't benefit them. Nobody wants to spend money on something that gives the other power company the ability to sell power.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

That's just a puny F4 though. What if 2 jumbo airplanes crashed into that thing on both sides?

More mass + surface area would mean the wall would have a much easier time absorbing the plane.

 

[0roo0roo]

so someone calculate the mass vs volume of the f4 vs a jetliner. i just have doubts about the airliner...those fighters are made to withstand dog fights and massive g rating turns, so their structure has to be very strong